Life preserver for assault troops



p 1963 J. ONDRUSH ETAL 3,103,674

LIFE PRESERVER FOR ASSAULT TROOPS Filed March 2'7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5. rim/v 0mm 1/5/7 Sept. 17, 1963 J. ONDRUSH EI'AL 3,103,674

LIFE PRESERVER FOR ASSAULT TROOPS Filed March 27, 1963 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l I I I I I I l I I I I I I l INVENTORi Jay/v 04/080617 Ffim/aK f Pu /40774 awwq Se t. 17, 1963 v J. ONDRUSH ETAL 3, 0

LIFE PRESERVER FOR ASSAULT TROOPS Filed March 27, 1963 3 Sheets-Shaet 5 INVENTOR5. (Ta/6W UNDRUSH BY PA 72/64 rl Pals/407M 3,103,674 Patented Sept. 17, 196 3 ice 3,103,674 LIFE PRESERVER FOR ASSAULT TROOPS John Ondrush, Ridgefield,'N.J., and Patrick J. Rubilotta,

Staten Island, N.Y., .assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,501 7 Claims. (Cl. 9-338) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to life preservers to be worn by assault troops and to be dofied immediately upon landing. Prior preservers have not been entirely satisfactory. For example, they were not compatible for use when landing from helicopters, transport aircraft and surface craft, were troublesome and difiicult to don and doif, the harness for them was not compatible with man load carrying equipment, possessed overall complexity, could not .be worn inflated .or deflated with all standard types ofcombat clothing and equipment including the standard parachute harness, did not permit desired freedom of movement of the wearer, were not compatible with standard seats and seat-belts in fixed wing transport aircraft and: helicopters, could not be stored in standard receptascles and/ or hung from standard fixtures, when deflated, in current land, sea and air transportation facilities.

Objects of the invention are toprovide life preservers for use by assault troops, when landing in water, which are capable of being worn, inflated and/ or deflated, with all standard types of combat clothing and equipment, ineluding-the standard parachute harness, which will permit freedom of movement of the wearer with a minimum of interferences, which may be readily removed, when worn in either inflated or deflated condition, without removal of individual clothing and equipment, in about seconds, with one hand, even when wearing cold weather handgear, which if accidentally inflated while being worn with the parachute harness will not cause suffocation of the wearer or materially impede hisbody movements in attempting to remove clothing and/or equipment, which will be compatible with standard seats and seatbelts in fixed wing transport aircraft and helicopters, which may be readily stored, when deflated, in standard receptacles and/ or hung from standard fixtures in current transportation operations, which will be more comfortable and easier to use with debarkation nets and to stand or move in landing craft; which may be easily and quickly dotted for leaving at the high water mark, which will be compatible with individual equipment of the wearer, and which Will be relatively simple, practical, convenient to use, effective, durable and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a preserver made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

FIG. 3 is an elevation, partly in section of a portion of a preserver illustrating, on a larger scale than in FIG. 1, the coupling between the free end of the arm-like extension and the casing with the major portion of the casing; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration on a larger scale than in FIG. 1, of the coupling in the harness.

'In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the life preserver includes an inflatable casing '1 of flexible sheet material having a major portion 2 of a size and shape to fit over and against the front of the chest of a wearer, immediately below the wearers head, and also having an arm-like, inflatable extension 3 which when formed is a substantially straight out extension as shown by dash lines in FIG. 2 When the casing is to be worn, it is donned while it is deflated, and the arm 3 is flexed around the neck of the wearer into the full line position shown in FIG. 2, where the free end of the arm or arm-like extension 3 abuts against the upper end face of the major portion 2. A flexible sheet 4 is secured to the end portion of the extension 3 so as to depend therefrom along the adjacent side face of the major portion 2. This side face of the major portion 2 carries a pair of outwardly projecting pins 5, spaced apart in a generally vertical direction, and each pin has, adjacent to but spaced from its free end, an annular peripheral groove 6.. The sheet 4- depends over the pins 5 and has eyelets 7 spaced apart and located to fit loosely over the pins 5 while the :free end of arm-like extension 3 of the casing approximately abuts against the upper end face of the major casing portion 2. A strip 8 of flexible sheet material, such as of fabric, has eyelets 9 spaced apart lengthwise along it, the same as the spacing betweenthe pins 5, so that this strip extends generally vertically and has its eyelets fitting over the pins 5. The eyelets 9 are of the snap spring type which have spring arms extending across opposite sides of the openings of the eyelets and which, when such an eyelet is placed on a pin 5, will snap into opposite sides of the annular groove 6 of that pin and yieldingly hold the eyelet on the pin. These snap spring eyelets are commercially available and hence are not illustrated or described in detail. The strap 3 extends well above the uppermost pin 5 and there is loose, so that its upper end may be easily grasped by the wearer. of the casing and pulled downwardly to strip it from the pins -5 and release the sheet 4 from the pins. This uncouples the arm-like extension 3 so that it is easily removed from around the neck of the wearer as the preserver is dotted. It has been discovered that when the wearer is in water, a generally vertical movement of the wearers handrin the Water encounters less resistance to movement than does a somewhat horizontal movement of the hand. There is a distinct advantage in having the release strip 8 movable vertically, either up or down but preferably down, in its release from the pins.

To confine the major portion of the inflatable casing against the chest of the wearer, a harness. is provided which includes a pair of straps l9 and 11 that are secured to opposite side portions of the lower [part of the casing 2 and are of lengths to extend from casing 2 around the back of the wearer, with their free ends overlapping and coupled to one another at one side of the wearer, as shown. The strap 10 near its free end is provided with a pair of generally vertically spaced apart pins 12, which are similar to pins 5, that project from its outer face, and the free end of strap 11 has a pair of eyelets 13 spaced apart generally vertically by anxamount enabling them to pass loosely over both of the pins 12 'and elfect a coupling between the straps 1d and 11. Another strip 14 of flexible sheet material is secured-at one of its ends to an upper or lower (preferably lower) side edge of the strap 10 in alignment with the pinslz. This strip at its free end has a cross bar 15 that serves as a handle, and the strip is long enough to pass-upwardly over the free end of strap 10 and the pins 12 thereon, with the handle 15 above the straps 10 and 11. This strip 14, intermediate of its ends, is provided with eyesan e /e 3 lets 16, of the type known inthe trade as snap catch eyelets, which have in the eyelet spring arms 17 at opposite sides of the eyelet opening that normally project partly across such opening. These eyelets 16 are similar to the eyelets 9 on the strip 8, are available in the market, and are spaced apart vertically by the same spacing as between the pins 12, so that both eyelets 16 may be passed over the pins 12 at any time. The spring arms 17 of each catch eyelet snap into opposite sides of the annular, peripheral groove in any pin 12, so as to yieldingly confine the strip 14 to the free ends of pins 12.

To couple the free ends of the harness straps 19 and 11, the free end of strap 11 is placed over the free end of strap 10, with the eyelets 13 of strap 11 loosely passed over pins 12. Then strip 14 is brought upwardly over these overlapping and coupled ends of straps and 11, and spring snap eyelets 16 passed over the free ends of the pins 12 until the spring arms 17 snap into the peripheral annular grooves in the pins to yieldingly confine strip 14 over the coupled strap ends 10 and 11. This places the handle of strip 14 above the coupled ends of straps 10 and 11. The harness confines the inflatable casing to the chest of a wearer, and when the wearer desires to doif the preserver, regardles of whether or not the casing 2 with its arrn 3 is inflated, the wearer merely grasps the handle 15 and pulls it downwardly which pulls the strip 14 from the pins 12, and then the coupled ends of straps 10 and 11 easily separate. Also the wearer grasps the upper end of strip 8 and pulls it downwardly to remove it from pins 5, which enables sheet 4 to move off the pins 5 and release the arm extension 3, so that it may move from around the back of the neck and complete the full release of the preserver from the wearer. It is not material which of the strips 8 and 14 is pulled first, but the pull is vertically downward on each strip 8 and 14 which requires the least effort by the wearers hands in the water. The direction of vertical pull on the strips 8 and 14 also reduces the danger of having the strips 8 and 14 become fouled on submerged objects, and be prematurely and inadvertently operated into release positions. When the arm extension 3 is cut from fabric straight out, as shown by the dash lines in FIG. 2, such an extension when inflated along with the major portion of the casing and latched at its free end to the said major portion, will have a tendency when it is released by pulling ofi the strip 8, to return to its straight out position and thus automatically move from around the neck of the wearer, which accelerate the freeing of the wearer from the preserver.

A cylinder 18 of compressed inflating gas is detachably secured to the trout or outer face of the major portion 2 of the casing and connected by a manually operable valve 19 to the interior of the casing. The valve has an operating cord 20 which, when activated or pulled, will operate the valve and connect the cylinder to the casing and cause inflation of the casing with its extension 2. A flap 21 covers the cylinder and valve to protect them from fouling on submerged objects. The casing may also have the usual tube 22 by which the casing may be inflated by the wearer blowing into the tube and the casing deflated by pressing in on the tip of the free end of tube 22.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled .in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim: '1. A life preserver for use by assault troops who may be landing in water, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable casing of flexible sheet material having a major portion that can fit against the chest on the front of the wearer, below his neck, with an armlike, tubular extension from one side of the upper end 4 thereof, of a length enabling it to pass around the back of the neck of the wearer and having a free end approximately abut-ting against the upper end of the major portion adjacent to the side thereof opposite from said one side,

(b) a quickly detachable coupling between said free end of said extension and said major portion including a pin on said major portion adjacent its said upper end and having an annular groove adjacent to but spaced from its free end, and

(c) a flexible member secured to the free end portion of said extension and carrying a washer which is freely passable over said pin,

(d) a flexible strap having a snap catch washer fitting over said pin and having a spring thereof engaging in said annular groove in said pin to releasably confine said flexible member on said pin,

(e) harness means connected to horizontally spaced apart areas of the lower part of said major portion of said casing, of a length to pass around the back of the wearer and having quickly detachable coupled portions enabling quick uncoupling when the preserver is to be discarded by the wearer,

(f) and means, elfective when activated, for inflating said casing, carried by said major portion,

(g) whereby said preserver may be discarded by the wearer by pulling said strap loose from said pin to release said detachable coupling which, in turn, releases the free end of said arm-like extension from the major portion, and by uncoupling said harness means.

2. A life preserver for use by assault troops who may be landing in water, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable casing of flexible sheet material having a major portion thereof of a size and shape to fit against the trout of the chest of a wearer, immediately below his head, and a minor arm-like portion extending from the upper end of said major portion adjacent one side thereof, and of a length to encircle the back of the neck of the wearer having a free end abutting against the upper end of the said major portion adjacent to that side of said major portion which is opposite from said one side thereof,

(b) a quickly detachable coupling between said free end of said arm-like portion and said major portion,

(0) harness means including straps connected to horizontally spaced apart areas of the lower part of said major portion, together of a size to pass around the back of a wearer and at their free ends coupled to one another with a quickly detachable coupling, and

(d) means carried by said major portion and effective,

when activated, for inflating said casing.

3. The preserver according to claim 2, wherein (a) said coupling between said arm-like portion and the major portion includes a flexible sheet attached to the free end portion of the arm'like portion, depending over the upper part of said major portion and carrying generally vertically spaced apart washers,

(b) a pair of outwardly projecting pins on that part of said major portion over which said flexible sheet extends, spaced apart generally vertically in positions to receive over them said washers of said flexible sheet, and each having an annular peripheral groove near to but spaced from its free end, and

(c) a strap of flexible material having in succession along its length a pair of spring catch eyelets that are spaced apart by the same spacing between said pins, and which may both pass over said pins and be detachably held thereon by engagement in said annular grooves,

(d) whereby when the washers of said flexible sheet are placed over said pins to secure the free end of said arm-like portion to said main portion, and said strap is then secured over said pins, the free end of said Lin arm-like portion may be easily and quickly released for separation firom said major portion for dofling of the preserver by merely pulling the strap in a vertical direction from said pins.

4. The preserver according to claim 2, wherein (a) said coupling in said harness means includes a pair of generally vertically arranged and spaced apart, forwardly projecting pins on the free end portion of one of said straps, each of which pins has an annular peripheral groove near but spaced from its free end,

(b) the tree end of the other of said straps having eyelets also arranged in succession generally vertically and spaced apart by the same spacing as that of said pins and of a size opening enabling them to both pass over said pins and couple said strap ends detachably together, and

(c) said strap free end portion which carries the pins having, along one edge thereof, a tongue of flexible material of a length to pass over that face of said one strap which carries said pins and terminating in a handle, and carrying a pair of spring catch eyelets arranged in succession along the length of said tongue spaced apart by the same distance as the distance :between said pins, and passed over said pins while said straps are coupled by said pins with the catch eyelets yieldingly engaging in said annular grooves of said pins,

(d) whereby by pulling said tongue generally vertically, it will release said coupled straps for separa: tion and facilitate rapid dofling of said preserver.

5. A life preserver for use by assault troops who may be landing in water, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable casing of flexible sheet material having a major portion of a size and shape to fit against the front of the chest of a wearer immediately below his head and a minor arm-like portion extending from one side portion of said major portion around the back of the neck of the wearer and there having a free end having a detachable coupling for attachment to said major portion,

(b) said detachable coupling including a pair of projecting pins on said major portion spaced apart in a generally vertical direction and each having an annular, peripheral groove near to but spaced from its free end, and an anchorage sheet of flexible material depending from said free end over a part of said major portion, and having eyelets fitting freely over said pins,

(c) a flexible strip having eyelets with spring snaps across the openings in the eyelets applied on said pins over said anchorage sheet to detachably confine said anchorage sheet on said pins and which when pulled in a generally vertical direction will release said anchorage sheet ;for removal from said P1115,

(d) harness straps secured to opposite side portions of the lower part of said casing of a length to extend around the back of the wearer,

(e) the free end of one of said straps having a pair of pins spaced apart in a vertical direction, and the free end of the other of said straps having eyelets loosely fitting over these pins on the other strap,

(f) another flexible strip secured at one end to an edge of said harness strap carrying said pins, vertically aligned with and extending over said pins, and having eyelets, with spring snaps across the openings in the eyelets, that fit over said pins on said one of said straps after said other harness strap is placed thereover and is held yieldingly thereon, and

(g) means carried by said major portion of said casing and 'efiective, when activated, for inflating said casing,

(h) whereby vertical pulls on said flexible strips will release said harness and arm-like portion for quick dofling of the preserver.

6. A life preserver to be worn by assault troops who may be landing in water, which comprises:

(a) an inflatable casing of flexible sheet material having a major portion of a size and shape to fit against the front of the chest of a wearer immediately below his head, and a minor arm-like extension of the upper end of the major portion adjacent one side thereof and of a length to extend around the back of a wearers neck and having a free end abut the upper end of the major portion adjacent the other side thereof,

(b) quickly detachable crneans coupling said free end of said arm-like extension to said major portion,

(0) means carried by said major portion of said casing and effective, when activated, for inflating said casing, and

(d) harness means connected to horizontally spacedapart areas of the lower part of said major portion of said casing, of a length to pass around the back of a wearer, and having quickly detachable coupled portions that when uncoupled release the harness means from the wearer of the casing.

7. The preserver according to claim 6, wherein said arm-like extension, when deflated, is biased to a straight out position.

-No references cited. 

6. A LIFE PRESERVER TO BE WORN BY ASSAULT TROOPS WHO MAY BE LANDING IN WATER, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) AN INFLATABLE CASING OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A MAJOR PORTION OF A SIZE AND SHAPE TO FIT AGAINST THE FRONT OF THE CHEST OF A WEARER IMMEDIATELY BELOW HIS HEAD, AND A MINOR ARM-LIKE EXTENSION OF THE UPPER END OF THE MAJOR PORTION ADJACENT ONE SIDE THEREOF AND OF A LENGTH TO EXTEND AROUND THE BACK OF A WEARER''S NECK AND HAVING A FREE END ABUT THE UPPER END OF THE MAJOR PORTION ADJACENT THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, (B) QUICKLY DETACHABLE MEANS COUPLING SAID FREE END OF SAID ARM-LIKE EXTENSION TO SAID MAJOR PORTION, (C) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MAJOR PORTION OF SAID CASING AND EFFECTIVE, WHEN ACTIVATED, FOR INFLATING SAID CASING, AND (D) HARNESS MEANS CONNECTED TO HORIZONTALLY SPACEDAPART AREAS OF THE LOWER PART OF SAID MAJOR PORTION OF SAID CASING, OF A LENGTH TO PASS AROUND THE BACK OF A WEARER, AND HAVING QUICKLY DETACHABLE COUPLED PORTIONS THAT WHEN UNCOUPLED RELEASE THE HARNESS MEANS FROM THE WEARER OF THE CASING. 